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The Echoes Saga #4
The Fall of Neverdark
THIRTY YEARS AFTER THE ECHOES OF FATE CHANGED THE COURSE OF HISTORY, AN ANCIENT EVIL STIRS ONCE MORE.
Millennia in the dark has left these lost and forgotten monsters hungry for war. The people of Illian can do nothing but rely on their peacekeepers, the Dragorn.
Are the dragon riders ready for what has been buried under their feet?
Gideon Thorn, Master of the Dragorn, can feel the Third Age coming to an ominous end. With Inara Galfrey and her dragon by his side, they must investigate the return of this ancient evil.
Alijah Galfrey has only one talent - getting into trouble. When he isn’t drinking, the half-elf is gambling his life away in the pursuit of relics no one cares about. Now, he finds himself at the sharp end of history. Can he take charge of his own future, or is he destined to be controlled by others?
Deep in the mines of Vengora, something ancient has been found, and the dwarves of Dhenaheim would go to war with the North over it. After sixty years in the world of men, Doran Heavybelly must finally return to his homeland if any peace is to be found…
THE FALL OF NEVERDARK CONTINUES THIS UNMISSABLE EPIC FANTASY SERIES.
Millennia in the dark has left these lost and forgotten monsters hungry for war. The people of Illian can do nothing but rely on their peacekeepers, the Dragorn.
Are the dragon riders ready for what has been buried under their feet?
Gideon Thorn, Master of the Dragorn, can feel the Third Age coming to an ominous end. With Inara Galfrey and her dragon by his side, they must investigate the return of this ancient evil.
Alijah Galfrey has only one talent - getting into trouble. When he isn’t drinking, the half-elf is gambling his life away in the pursuit of relics no one cares about. Now, he finds himself at the sharp end of history. Can he take charge of his own future, or is he destined to be controlled by others?
Deep in the mines of Vengora, something ancient has been found, and the dwarves of Dhenaheim would go to war with the North over it. After sixty years in the world of men, Doran Heavybelly must finally return to his homeland if any peace is to be found…
THE FALL OF NEVERDARK CONTINUES THIS UNMISSABLE EPIC FANTASY SERIES.
640 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 28, 2018
2030 people are currently reading
2575 people want to read
About the author
Philip C. Quaintrell
22 books1,527 followersPhilip started his career as an emergency nurse and began writing the books he’d want to read as a hobby between shifts.
He published his first novel in 2016, and soon began his epic fantasy series, The Echoes Saga which went straight into the Amazon bestsellers list in 4 countries.
Now one of the best-selling indie authors worldwide, Philip lives in Manchester, England with his wife and two young children and is hoping this is just the beginning.
He published his first novel in 2016, and soon began his epic fantasy series, The Echoes Saga which went straight into the Amazon bestsellers list in 4 countries.
Now one of the best-selling indie authors worldwide, Philip lives in Manchester, England with his wife and two young children and is hoping this is just the beginning.
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September 13, 2022
The Fall of Neverdark was a great start to the second trilogy in The Echoes Saga.
If you have been following my reading journey this year, you will see that I have enjoyed my time reading through one book in The Echoes Saga by Philip C. Quaintrell each month. The Fall of Neverdark signaled the beginning of the second trilogy in the nine-book series, and I think it’s a more solid start to a series compared to Rise of the Ranger. It is always a risky move to continue writing a new story in a series after it has reached its completion. But in the case of The Echoes Saga, as the author stated himself, he has planned the series to be nine books long divided into three trilogies since the first and second books of the series. And I am gladdened by this decision. The new storyline here felt seamlessly connected to the first trilogy; it never felt forced. Once again, similar to the previous three books, The Fall of Neverdark provided another entertaining reading experience.
The story in The Fall of Neverdark takes place thirty years after the end of The War for the Realm in Relic of the Gods. The Third Age of Verda might end soon with the rise of a new powerful race of enemies, the orcs, and the new generation of heroes will have to take a stand in this overwhelming fight. As you can probably guess if you have read the previous book, a time skip is needed for the rest of the series to shine more, and Quaintrell delivered what I wanted and more. Most of the storylines in this book featured new main characters taking the central stage, but the narrative is also balanced with plenty of returning characters from the first trilogy. Although I was immediately immersed with The Fall of Neverdark, I was slightly afraid the new story would end up feeling forced or like a cash grab. However, I'm glad this fear was unfounded after the first 35% of the novel. The Crow, the orcs, necromancy, and The Dragon Knight made the conflicts in The Fall of Neverdark so compelling. Seeing our new and returning characters doing their best to struggle against surprisingly overwhelming odds was the direction the new trilogy needed.
Maybe it is not fair to compare the quality of writing to Rise of the Ranger, the first book in the series, but I feel it's necessary to mention that as a new start to a new trilogy, the prose in The Fall of Neverdark is vastly superior. The author mentioned in the acknowledgment section that this is the book he first wrote after he transitioned into a full-time author, and I think the cohesive quality of the plot, battle scenes, and characterizations can be felt in it. The new characters, like Inara, Alijah, The Crow, Vighon, and more, can hold up their end against the returning characters. I admit I am not a fan of Alijah yet; he's prone to anger, although understandably, and he's the kind of character who keep secrets and feelings to himself while thinking that his actions are correct. But the direction that his story took was, without a doubt, intriguing. And the same can obviously be said for the returning characters, especially Master Dragorn, all the dragons, Galanor, and Doran Heavybelly. Doran Heavybelly, in particular, received a LOT of development which makes me happy because I've always liked his character since his first appearance in Empire of Dirt.
I am limited in what I can say in my review because, technically, this is the fourth book of the series, and many things or names I mentioned could end up being interpreted as spoilers. Overall, despite my doubts and the slow start to the novel, The Fall of Neverdark is an engaging fourth novel in The Echoes Saga series. It continued superbly from Relic of the Gods while also starting something new in the world of Veda without sacrificing its characterizations. Based on everything set up in the series so far and the literal cliffhanger of this novel, I feel like this is the last installment before The Echoes Saga escalates to a higher level in Kingdom of Bones. My time with the series so far has been, for sure, captivating, and I am looking forward to whether the halfway point of the series will be able to turn The Echoes Saga into something special for me.
You can order this book from: Amazon UK | Amazon US
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Andrew, Andrew W, Amanda, Annabeth, Ben, Diana, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Ellen, Ellis, Gary, Hamad, Helen, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Luis, Lufi, Melinda, Meryl, Mike, Miracle, Nanette, Neeraja, Nicholas, Reno, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawna, Xero, Wendy, Wick, Zoe.
If you have been following my reading journey this year, you will see that I have enjoyed my time reading through one book in The Echoes Saga by Philip C. Quaintrell each month. The Fall of Neverdark signaled the beginning of the second trilogy in the nine-book series, and I think it’s a more solid start to a series compared to Rise of the Ranger. It is always a risky move to continue writing a new story in a series after it has reached its completion. But in the case of The Echoes Saga, as the author stated himself, he has planned the series to be nine books long divided into three trilogies since the first and second books of the series. And I am gladdened by this decision. The new storyline here felt seamlessly connected to the first trilogy; it never felt forced. Once again, similar to the previous three books, The Fall of Neverdark provided another entertaining reading experience.
The story in The Fall of Neverdark takes place thirty years after the end of The War for the Realm in Relic of the Gods. The Third Age of Verda might end soon with the rise of a new powerful race of enemies, the orcs, and the new generation of heroes will have to take a stand in this overwhelming fight. As you can probably guess if you have read the previous book, a time skip is needed for the rest of the series to shine more, and Quaintrell delivered what I wanted and more. Most of the storylines in this book featured new main characters taking the central stage, but the narrative is also balanced with plenty of returning characters from the first trilogy. Although I was immediately immersed with The Fall of Neverdark, I was slightly afraid the new story would end up feeling forced or like a cash grab. However, I'm glad this fear was unfounded after the first 35% of the novel. The Crow, the orcs, necromancy, and The Dragon Knight made the conflicts in The Fall of Neverdark so compelling. Seeing our new and returning characters doing their best to struggle against surprisingly overwhelming odds was the direction the new trilogy needed.
“As Dragorn, we carry the most precious gift and the most powerful weapon. With it, there is nothing we cannot accomplish… Can you not feel it, wingless one? It has passed down the generations of our order for thousands of years. We carry hope.”
Maybe it is not fair to compare the quality of writing to Rise of the Ranger, the first book in the series, but I feel it's necessary to mention that as a new start to a new trilogy, the prose in The Fall of Neverdark is vastly superior. The author mentioned in the acknowledgment section that this is the book he first wrote after he transitioned into a full-time author, and I think the cohesive quality of the plot, battle scenes, and characterizations can be felt in it. The new characters, like Inara, Alijah, The Crow, Vighon, and more, can hold up their end against the returning characters. I admit I am not a fan of Alijah yet; he's prone to anger, although understandably, and he's the kind of character who keep secrets and feelings to himself while thinking that his actions are correct. But the direction that his story took was, without a doubt, intriguing. And the same can obviously be said for the returning characters, especially Master Dragorn, all the dragons, Galanor, and Doran Heavybelly. Doran Heavybelly, in particular, received a LOT of development which makes me happy because I've always liked his character since his first appearance in Empire of Dirt.
I am limited in what I can say in my review because, technically, this is the fourth book of the series, and many things or names I mentioned could end up being interpreted as spoilers. Overall, despite my doubts and the slow start to the novel, The Fall of Neverdark is an engaging fourth novel in The Echoes Saga series. It continued superbly from Relic of the Gods while also starting something new in the world of Veda without sacrificing its characterizations. Based on everything set up in the series so far and the literal cliffhanger of this novel, I feel like this is the last installment before The Echoes Saga escalates to a higher level in Kingdom of Bones. My time with the series so far has been, for sure, captivating, and I am looking forward to whether the halfway point of the series will be able to turn The Echoes Saga into something special for me.
You can order this book from: Amazon UK | Amazon US
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Andrew, Andrew W, Amanda, Annabeth, Ben, Diana, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Ellen, Ellis, Gary, Hamad, Helen, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Luis, Lufi, Melinda, Meryl, Mike, Miracle, Nanette, Neeraja, Nicholas, Reno, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawna, Xero, Wendy, Wick, Zoe.
April 1, 2024
The Fall Of Neverdark
A SAGA ÉPICA DOS ECOS CONTINUA INCRÍVEL COM SOFRIMENTO EM DOBRO.
Quarto livro da saga dos Ecos e primeiro livro da nova trilogia os Ecos dos Perdidos nesse livro voltamos pra Verda 30 anos depois dos acontecimentos da primeira trilogia e acompanhamos alguns rostos conhecidos como Gideon Thorn que agora é mestre dos Dragorn e também meu casal fofo Reyna e Nathaniel Galfrey e ficamos sabendo o que eles fizeram durante esses 30 anos e também acompanhamos um novo trio de personagens Inara e Alijah Galfrey e Vighon amigo de infância deles bem como a jornada de cada um deles e eu tenho que dizer que dos três novos protagonistas Alijah foi o que menos gostei porque ele ficou com uma frescura o livro inteiro e a cada vez que ele mencionava isso eu tava revirando os olhos sério que ranço e por outro lado Inara a irmã dele gostei muito dela bem como Athias sei companheiro dragão os pov dela foram muito bons e me fizeram ficar ansioso pra ver mais e quanto aos Vighon eu gostei muito dele nesse livro bem com mó a história dele que foi bem pesada e espero que isso continue sendo explorado e também fomos apresentados a novas ameaças como os Orcs e o Corvo e esse último eu fiquei com um ódio mortal sério o tanto de merda que ele faz nesse livro não tá escrito só apareceu pra fazer meus personagens favoritos sofreram que ódio 😭😭😭 mas no geral eu achei incrível essa sequência e o ritmo do livro é muito bom tendas querer ler mais a cada cap terminado e eu não vejo a hora de ler o próximo depois do gancho que ficou no final desse e mais uma vez recomendo a todos essa saga de fantasia e deixo registrado mais uma vez que essa já é uma das minhas séries de fantasia favoritas de todos os tempos.
A SAGA ÉPICA DOS ECOS CONTINUA INCRÍVEL COM SOFRIMENTO EM DOBRO.
Quarto livro da saga dos Ecos e primeiro livro da nova trilogia os Ecos dos Perdidos nesse livro voltamos pra Verda 30 anos depois dos acontecimentos da primeira trilogia e acompanhamos alguns rostos conhecidos como Gideon Thorn que agora é mestre dos Dragorn e também meu casal fofo Reyna e Nathaniel Galfrey e ficamos sabendo o que eles fizeram durante esses 30 anos e também acompanhamos um novo trio de personagens Inara e Alijah Galfrey e Vighon amigo de infância deles bem como a jornada de cada um deles e eu tenho que dizer que dos três novos protagonistas Alijah foi o que menos gostei porque ele ficou com uma frescura o livro inteiro e a cada vez que ele mencionava isso eu tava revirando os olhos sério que ranço e por outro lado Inara a irmã dele gostei muito dela bem como Athias sei companheiro dragão os pov dela foram muito bons e me fizeram ficar ansioso pra ver mais e quanto aos Vighon eu gostei muito dele nesse livro bem com mó a história dele que foi bem pesada e espero que isso continue sendo explorado e também fomos apresentados a novas ameaças como os Orcs e o Corvo e esse último eu fiquei com um ódio mortal sério o tanto de merda que ele faz nesse livro não tá escrito só apareceu pra fazer meus personagens favoritos sofreram que ódio 😭😭😭 mas no geral eu achei incrível essa sequência e o ritmo do livro é muito bom tendas querer ler mais a cada cap terminado e eu não vejo a hora de ler o próximo depois do gancho que ficou no final desse e mais uma vez recomendo a todos essa saga de fantasia e deixo registrado mais uma vez que essa já é uma das minhas séries de fantasia favoritas de todos os tempos.
January 14, 2025
This was a great start to the next arc of The Echoes Saga!
I read Arc 1 (Books 1-3) waaaay back in 2021 and enjoyed them immensely. Quaintrell's world feels very DnD, but I found the characters and plotting to be significantly more complex and nuanced than your average Fantasy series (especially self-published ones).
That continues here in The Fall of Neverdark, which takes place 30 years after the end of Book 3. We follow a few of the characters from the first arc, along with some excellent new ones - some of which are children of said characters.
All of the new characters feel fully fleshed out, and although the new storyline did take about half the book to really get rolling, once it did it this book was very difficult to put down.
There are still a few writing nitpicks that I have, most of which likely stem from this being self-published and therefore (I assume) not professionally edited, but these pale in comparison to the bigger picture of what Quaintrell is building.
The truth is, the guy is just a remarkably natural storytelling talent.
This is a series that any/all Epic Fantasy fans should be checking out.
I read Arc 1 (Books 1-3) waaaay back in 2021 and enjoyed them immensely. Quaintrell's world feels very DnD, but I found the characters and plotting to be significantly more complex and nuanced than your average Fantasy series (especially self-published ones).
That continues here in The Fall of Neverdark, which takes place 30 years after the end of Book 3. We follow a few of the characters from the first arc, along with some excellent new ones - some of which are children of said characters.
All of the new characters feel fully fleshed out, and although the new storyline did take about half the book to really get rolling, once it did it this book was very difficult to put down.
There are still a few writing nitpicks that I have, most of which likely stem from this being self-published and therefore (I assume) not professionally edited, but these pale in comparison to the bigger picture of what Quaintrell is building.
The truth is, the guy is just a remarkably natural storytelling talent.
This is a series that any/all Epic Fantasy fans should be checking out.
June 26, 2019
This is one of those books that is ALMOST perfect. It has a great story and interesting characters. But there isn't enough character development and depth for me. I always felt held at arm's length to them. We get to know some of their histories, but I think there is too much telling and not enough showing. You only scratch their surface. I just read a book very similar to this. Excellent story and characters, but I wasn't allowed into the lives of the characters enough for my liking. Maybe that happens because the author changes POV? I'm not sure. I have read a lot of multiple POV stories that have insane character depth. This one just didn't have it, and to me, that really damages my opinion of the book. If you want to read a good story, I definitely recommend it. It's interesting and exciting. There is a nice cast of characters, magic and it has dragons, so that's always fun. I will probably still pick up the next book, just to find out what happens.
April 9, 2023
As I have come to expect from this wonderful author there is a lot of amazing and beautiful world building coupled with imagination inspiring writing which keep the book flowing at a steady and rich in content pace.
I loved the new characters both good and bad which were multiple layered. There is also the return of much loved characters from the last book which enriched the story even more. The flips between past and present added a new perspective to the plot which was very intriguing.
I enjoyed the battles immensely as they involved lots of magic and fighting styles unique to the different races of those fighting and also bonds were strengthened between the characters which I found heartwarming.
This book is full of twists and turns magic, different races of people, mass destruction of kingdoms and battles to mention just a few things. The ending of this book is nothing but spectacular.
I loved the new characters both good and bad which were multiple layered. There is also the return of much loved characters from the last book which enriched the story even more. The flips between past and present added a new perspective to the plot which was very intriguing.
I enjoyed the battles immensely as they involved lots of magic and fighting styles unique to the different races of those fighting and also bonds were strengthened between the characters which I found heartwarming.
This book is full of twists and turns magic, different races of people, mass destruction of kingdoms and battles to mention just a few things. The ending of this book is nothing but spectacular.
January 1, 2019
Great book
I have read the previous series and this new series was fantastic. It was great to see or read how characters from before and new characters interact and the storyline was very good and I liked how we will find out more on Doran. Love the mix with magic, Dragon, elves, dwarves and humans and how this works together and I am already looking forward to the next book in the series when it is released.
I have read the previous series and this new series was fantastic. It was great to see or read how characters from before and new characters interact and the storyline was very good and I liked how we will find out more on Doran. Love the mix with magic, Dragon, elves, dwarves and humans and how this works together and I am already looking forward to the next book in the series when it is released.
January 29, 2026
This is a book of battles and I'm here for it. Unfortunately, I am 4 books in and still cravvvvinnngg deeper character development and on page depth. I yearn for more! But overall I enjoyed reading this (and Philip... I still have not forgiven you for Relic of the Gods - you know what you did)
Me reading this series:
Me reading this series:
January 6, 2025
3.5 stars
March 1, 2019
Can't put this series down!
Recently started kindle unlimited and this series came up. I read all 4 books in little less than a week. Love the characters and how they flowed from one book to the next. The writing creates a full color movie going on in your mind. Can't wait for the next book
Recently started kindle unlimited and this series came up. I read all 4 books in little less than a week. Love the characters and how they flowed from one book to the next. The writing creates a full color movie going on in your mind. Can't wait for the next book
February 10, 2025
TheEchoes Saga 04 The Fall of Neverdark by Philip C. Quaintrell
adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad tense
Medium-paced
Plot or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? It's complicated
4.0 Stars
I enjoyed this story, but not as much as I have the previous books. Not sure exactly WHY, but for some reason...I was removed from the characters. I'm not sure this was the author's fault, or even anything bad about the book, but I didn't connect with it, like I had previously.
My favourite character has been Asher, and...well, things didn't go well with Asher in this story. Once that happened, I was LESS enthused to read it. Weird.
I will be picking up the next book, but am hoping that I connect with that next book, early on...and fully.
He really does write great characters, but ODDLY, I just was going through the motions with this book. Years to come, I'll reread it...and maybe have a totally different experience.
Okay. Onward.
adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad tense
Medium-paced
Plot or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? It's complicated
4.0 Stars
I enjoyed this story, but not as much as I have the previous books. Not sure exactly WHY, but for some reason...I was removed from the characters. I'm not sure this was the author's fault, or even anything bad about the book, but I didn't connect with it, like I had previously.
My favourite character has been Asher, and...well, things didn't go well with Asher in this story. Once that happened, I was LESS enthused to read it. Weird.
I will be picking up the next book, but am hoping that I connect with that next book, early on...and fully.
He really does write great characters, but ODDLY, I just was going through the motions with this book. Years to come, I'll reread it...and maybe have a totally different experience.
Okay. Onward.
April 30, 2023
new characters, exciting times to come
The Black Hand is playing the long game. We learn who the Crow is. We hear his plan eventually.
Our tried and true characters return but thirty years in the future. There are some new characters we get to know: Alijah, Inara, Vighon, and Petrus. As the Black Hand gains more power and allies with the orcs, the fate of Verda swings in the balance. We will see people fall and some rise.
So many questions we are left with at the end of an amazing 150 pages of battles. I can’t ask any of them here because it would give away events that happen in the story. But needless to say, I can’t wait to crack open the next book.
The Black Hand is playing the long game. We learn who the Crow is. We hear his plan eventually.
Our tried and true characters return but thirty years in the future. There are some new characters we get to know: Alijah, Inara, Vighon, and Petrus. As the Black Hand gains more power and allies with the orcs, the fate of Verda swings in the balance. We will see people fall and some rise.
So many questions we are left with at the end of an amazing 150 pages of battles. I can’t ask any of them here because it would give away events that happen in the story. But needless to say, I can’t wait to crack open the next book.
October 16, 2022
This book took me so long to read. I didn't find it as captivating as the first three. So much of it felt...unfocused or messy.
And then...came the ending...the last three chapters brought everything together and it was fantastic!
I can't give this one five stars, as I did have issues with it. But I sense it bumping up to a five when eventually I reread it, and piece everything together knowing what is to come.
And then...came the ending...the last three chapters brought everything together and it was fantastic!
I can't give this one five stars, as I did have issues with it. But I sense it bumping up to a five when eventually I reread it, and piece everything together knowing what is to come.
January 28, 2019
Absolutely brilliant.
WOW. What a story. Philip C Quaintrell is a fabulous story teller giving the reader a real feeling of empathy to his characters. I'm so glad Asher is back, hopefully changing his ways in the next book. If you haven't read Echos of Fate then you MUST. Thankyou again for a brilliant read, can't wait for the next one
WOW. What a story. Philip C Quaintrell is a fabulous story teller giving the reader a real feeling of empathy to his characters. I'm so glad Asher is back, hopefully changing his ways in the next book. If you haven't read Echos of Fate then you MUST. Thankyou again for a brilliant read, can't wait for the next one
February 6, 2019
Damn! But that is one good read
I practically inhaled this book, I loved the Echoes of Fate but this, this is better. Just need Books 2 and 3 (5 & 6 ?) to completely take over what free time I have.
I you haven’t read the Echoes of Fate do so before reading this, you will not be disappointed.
I practically inhaled this book, I loved the Echoes of Fate but this, this is better. Just need Books 2 and 3 (5 & 6 ?) to completely take over what free time I have.
I you haven’t read the Echoes of Fate do so before reading this, you will not be disappointed.
May 9, 2024
The Orcs have returned!!
Thirty years have passed since Asher gave his life to save the world. The Dragorn order has been re-established. The main characters are now Alijah and Inara, the twin half elf children of Reyna and Nathaniel. While you can read this without the previous trilogy, l wouldn't.
War has come to the world. The book is full of battles.
Thirty years have passed since Asher gave his life to save the world. The Dragorn order has been re-established. The main characters are now Alijah and Inara, the twin half elf children of Reyna and Nathaniel. While you can read this without the previous trilogy, l wouldn't.
War has come to the world. The book is full of battles.
January 25, 2019
Family is the next link in the saga. New villains appear as the Black Hand attacks.
Children of our heroes from the Echoes are growing up to find their own destiny. Old friends and even lost ones show up again. Great link to keep the story going. Enjoy the adventure.
Children of our heroes from the Echoes are growing up to find their own destiny. Old friends and even lost ones show up again. Great link to keep the story going. Enjoy the adventure.
February 20, 2019
Amazing book!
Loved the entire book... after the last series I was happy to see a new book released and was gripped from beginning to end! Can’t want for the new book to come out :)
Loved the entire book... after the last series I was happy to see a new book released and was gripped from beginning to end! Can’t want for the new book to come out :)
February 21, 2019
Another good one!
I was excited about the start of this series after finishing the first three books, and it certainly hasn’t disappointed! Looking forward to the release of book two!
I was excited about the start of this series after finishing the first three books, and it certainly hasn’t disappointed! Looking forward to the release of book two!
September 16, 2022
Wow
I was nervous going into this book, with a new generation, but I shouldn't have been! It was a crazy ride! And now I have so much more to look forward to in future books. Diving back in right away!
I was nervous going into this book, with a new generation, but I shouldn't have been! It was a crazy ride! And now I have so much more to look forward to in future books. Diving back in right away!
March 4, 2019
Great Read
Really good book, great follow up to the Echoes of Fate trilogy. Can't wait until the next one comes out, keep up the good work.
Really good book, great follow up to the Echoes of Fate trilogy. Can't wait until the next one comes out, keep up the good work.
March 15, 2019
Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. Need I say more.
November 4, 2025
The Fall of Neverdark is the fourth instalment in the Echoes Saga and the first in the second trilogy of books. It's set thirty years after the initial series, and follows many of the characters in the first trilogy, now grizzled veterans, as they face a new threat in The Crow and The Black Hand. It also fallows several new characters, all of which fit right into the series, to Quaintrell's credit.
I must say, this was a dark opening to this new trilogy. It feels like no-one's safe, even the main characters from the previous trilogy. It doesn't diminish the evil that was defeated in the initial trilogy either which I like. It also does a lot of good in expanding the world through travelling to new places, meeting new people and races and encountering new magics.
For things I didn't like, I do feel like in some ways the most important characters from the first trilogy have kind of become these perfect beings, especially Nathaniel and Reyna. I'd like to see some of the old them showing their faces again in the coming books.
Overall, this first instalment was pretty great and I look forward to reading the upcoming instalments in the trilogy.
I must say, this was a dark opening to this new trilogy. It feels like no-one's safe, even the main characters from the previous trilogy. It doesn't diminish the evil that was defeated in the initial trilogy either which I like. It also does a lot of good in expanding the world through travelling to new places, meeting new people and races and encountering new magics.
For things I didn't like, I do feel like in some ways the most important characters from the first trilogy have kind of become these perfect beings, especially Nathaniel and Reyna. I'd like to see some of the old them showing their faces again in the coming books.
Overall, this first instalment was pretty great and I look forward to reading the upcoming instalments in the trilogy.
March 21, 2019
Great start to the new book series, did not put it down, whi h is better than can't put it down
May 25, 2019
So many Orcs, so few warriors
A dead hero returns, a live hero dies. Will a new dragorn appear? Plenty of action and puzzles to ponder in this tale. One personal criticism is the recurrent insistence that the 'gods' were merely human inventions - sounds like someone has an axe to grind on this subject!
A dead hero returns, a live hero dies. Will a new dragorn appear? Plenty of action and puzzles to ponder in this tale. One personal criticism is the recurrent insistence that the 'gods' were merely human inventions - sounds like someone has an axe to grind on this subject!
April 25, 2022
I'm completely enthralled and captivated by, The Echoes Saga. Feeling fortunate that this is a 9 book series and that there are many more adventures left to enjoy before the end.
"I can't shake the feeling that everything is about to change. The end of an Age..."
Onto book #5!
"I can't shake the feeling that everything is about to change. The end of an Age..."
Onto book #5!
February 19, 2023
A few thoughts on whether to read the Echoes saga: https://www.solseit.com/blog-2/why-re...
Here is the executive summary book review to check if the book starting the second trilogy in the series works for you! https://www.solseit.com/blog-2-2/the-...
Here is the executive summary book review to check if the book starting the second trilogy in the series works for you! https://www.solseit.com/blog-2-2/the-...
March 2, 2019
They're all back!
Another cracking read. Great to see this build on the characters from the first series, but with a new life of their own.
Love your work Philip and can't wait for the next one!!!
Another cracking read. Great to see this build on the characters from the first series, but with a new life of their own.
Love your work Philip and can't wait for the next one!!!
December 10, 2024
4.25 Stars
This one was a hard one for me……
So, a day later and I am still trying to figure out why I had such a different reaction to this book. At least, the few reviews that I glanced at seemed to LOVE this book and yet.....
But, I think I may have a partial reason....
I, for whatever reason, only read the first three books in this series (the first trilogy) before deciding to take a break and come back later to finish the last 6. Unfortunately, that break lasted much longer than I had planned and before I knew it, instead of going back and reading book 4, I started the prequel series - The Ranger Archives.
The Ranger Archives is completely focused on Asher and his origin story, from when he leaves Nightfall, and all of the complex emotions that he deals with as he starts his new life. Soooo, I just spent three entire books in Asher's head (and LOVED it btw) and then because it had been such a long time, I ended rereading the first book in this series to tie the end of one series with the begininning of the next. That is where my head was.
So, I was excited to jump back into this series and started book 4 - and this is going to be hard to get through without spoilers, but let's just say that things happen to Asher (even though he is NOT a huge part of this book) but his ACTIONS are. In essence, since this is the start of the next trilogy, it makes sense that this is the book where everything falls apart. Things have to break for there to be solutions and resolutions, but man oh man....it felt like EVERYTHING just went to he**.
I think that watching what happens to Asher after spending all that time with him and understanding what drove him and how much he struggled with being good...well, it was hard. I think it was harder because of the order in which I read the books - it wasn't meant to be read in that order and I think that might have been my problem. Honestly, who knows.....?????
Ask me again after I finish this second trilogy, or heck, after the end of this series as a whole. That is probably the best time to go back and read a prequel - when everything in the current series has been tied up and you have a completed story arc. I can see how that would be good to get a better understanding about Asher as a character.
So- if anyone is reading this that hasn't read The Ranger Archives, my suggestion would be to NOT do what I did. Definitely read that series because it is excellent, but maybe just read it in the order in which it was written.
Now I'm going to try to get my head back in the game and jump back into the happenings in the crazy world of Illian. Orcs? Seriously? Who woulda thunk it?
This one was a hard one for me……
So, a day later and I am still trying to figure out why I had such a different reaction to this book. At least, the few reviews that I glanced at seemed to LOVE this book and yet.....
But, I think I may have a partial reason....
I, for whatever reason, only read the first three books in this series (the first trilogy) before deciding to take a break and come back later to finish the last 6. Unfortunately, that break lasted much longer than I had planned and before I knew it, instead of going back and reading book 4, I started the prequel series - The Ranger Archives.
The Ranger Archives is completely focused on Asher and his origin story, from when he leaves Nightfall, and all of the complex emotions that he deals with as he starts his new life. Soooo, I just spent three entire books in Asher's head (and LOVED it btw) and then because it had been such a long time, I ended rereading the first book in this series to tie the end of one series with the begininning of the next. That is where my head was.
So, I was excited to jump back into this series and started book 4 - and this is going to be hard to get through without spoilers, but let's just say that things happen to Asher (even though he is NOT a huge part of this book) but his ACTIONS are. In essence, since this is the start of the next trilogy, it makes sense that this is the book where everything falls apart. Things have to break for there to be solutions and resolutions, but man oh man....it felt like EVERYTHING just went to he**.
I think that watching what happens to Asher after spending all that time with him and understanding what drove him and how much he struggled with being good...well, it was hard. I think it was harder because of the order in which I read the books - it wasn't meant to be read in that order and I think that might have been my problem. Honestly, who knows.....?????
Ask me again after I finish this second trilogy, or heck, after the end of this series as a whole. That is probably the best time to go back and read a prequel - when everything in the current series has been tied up and you have a completed story arc. I can see how that would be good to get a better understanding about Asher as a character.
So- if anyone is reading this that hasn't read The Ranger Archives, my suggestion would be to NOT do what I did. Definitely read that series because it is excellent, but maybe just read it in the order in which it was written.
Now I'm going to try to get my head back in the game and jump back into the happenings in the crazy world of Illian. Orcs? Seriously? Who woulda thunk it?
November 5, 2025
The original three books felt like a pleasant, seemingly original trilogy—a solid action-fantasy series that hit all the expected beats. Enjoyable, with memorable characters, but not especially deep or dark. The risks were medium, the tone lighter, and the storylines wrapped up neatly enough to feel complete.
Book four changes all that. It’s darker, grittier, and more ambitious, with twists that keep you guessing. The stakes feel higher, the main villain is more enigmatic, and their motives are harder to pin down. The future of this world feels uncertain now, and that uncertainty builds real tension in the best way.
The story’s scope has expanded, the world feels larger and more alive, and the sense of danger lingers on every page. It’s a clear step up in quality, taking everything that worked in the original series and pushing it deeper and sharper. Even the ending refuses to play it safe, holding back full resolution and setting up what promises to be an intense continuation.
I can’t wait to see what this world looks like once the dust settles and the characters face what’s coming next.
Book four changes all that. It’s darker, grittier, and more ambitious, with twists that keep you guessing. The stakes feel higher, the main villain is more enigmatic, and their motives are harder to pin down. The future of this world feels uncertain now, and that uncertainty builds real tension in the best way.
The story’s scope has expanded, the world feels larger and more alive, and the sense of danger lingers on every page. It’s a clear step up in quality, taking everything that worked in the original series and pushing it deeper and sharper. Even the ending refuses to play it safe, holding back full resolution and setting up what promises to be an intense continuation.
I can’t wait to see what this world looks like once the dust settles and the characters face what’s coming next.
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